Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-05-06
ANTICS OF AN APE.
Trying to Catch Stray Monkey In
Paris-A Question of Ownership.

tics of an ape in Paris has just found
comical counterpart. Oddly enough, both
dramas were enacted in the same locality,
that is to say. not far from the morg1e.
A bevy of newly enlisted conscripts, with
painted pictures on their hats, were
crossing the Point Neuf, arm in arm,
keeping step to the music of the "Marsel-
laise." when suddenly they saw a small
but niiajle monkey lcaping and bound
ing in front of them, making a zigzag
course. from one side of the bridge to
the other, frightened at the water on
either hand. and too beaddled in mind to
think of making straight and swift es-
cape to the end of the bridge. and thence
To his home. The young conscripts, for
getting their country and its national
song, gave a scream of delight. broke
ranks and gave instant chase after the
lively little beast. The raw recruits, un-
diciplned vet eager for action. performed
prodigies Of valor in running against and
knocking one another down, and whisk-
ing off one anothcr's picture covered
hats. but no one of the hunters caught
the monkey. He lodged deity between
the collective legs of the whole battalion.
and was as brisk in his 'new departures
as the Irishman's flea. Soon the melee,
like travelling gust of wind, was trans
ferred from the bridge to the adjoining
quai de la meggisserie. Here the numer-
Gus passers by. on seeing the fun. at once
joined in it. adding to the baffled military
force fresh civil reserve, The spectacle
was exhilarating. The crowd became
dense, and everybody was soon stupidity
looking down and around, here and
there, expecting the monkey to be found
under somebody's feet.
"Poor thing, he will probably he
trampled to DEATH" exclaimed some
humane voices.
But this apprehension was soon put at
rest. A hundred merry Threats sud
denly burst into a ringing cheer. Had
the monkey been caught? No! He was
farther than ever from such an igno-
minious fate-he had climbed tree!
Look at the little brute said a stout
gentleman, who had legal portfolio
under his arm, chow he is grinning at
us! showing contempt to the court and
jury"
Two or three ragamuffins, veritable
gamins then climbed the monkeys tree
almost as nimbly as if they had been
monkeys themselves Did thoy get
their hands upon their Simian brother?
Not at all! He hoped from branch to
branch, and, on being holly pressed,
made final and splendid jump-better
than anything done on the trapeze at the
hippodrome--landing himself safely on
tho next tree. The gamins were badly
laughed at. Nothing so i'll succeeds as
i'll success. as Tallcyrand might have OBJ
served. But the gamins were not to be
disconnected by laugh nor outwitted
by an ape. The young rogues attacked
the next tree, and the next, until the
into, skipped at last to the only remain
ing refuge, which was the top of lamp
post. On this low pinnacle of evident
danger his chances of maintaining his
liberty and life might have been small,
except for the opportune interference of
a tail policeman, who said
Stand off, boys, l will reach up and
take him down, quietly"
Whereupon the gentle giant out.
stretched his long right arm, and grazed
the willing captive, who showed mani
fest signs of relief at thus receiving the
protection of the law.
Was the sport now over? Certainly
not. 1t was in fact, rebegun.
"Who is the owner of this ANIMAL
Let him step forth and claim his pro-
perty," said the officer, magisterially.
1.-THE monkey is mine. replied wills
kered young man, with unkempt hail
and an uncanny look.
mo; he is mine, replied a small boy
smaller even than any of the gamin.
who had climbed the trees.
you are a little liar rejoined tn,
unkempt man.
"You are big thief" retorted the
courageous lad.
In two minutes the popular interest il
this dispute grew to fever heat. There
was something in the honest, scared, tear
full look of the little boy that excited tn,
sympathy of the bystanders. A police
man is, of all men, pre-eminently sus
picious. The policeman who beld tn,
monkey gave searching and suspicious
look at the grizzly whiskerando who stoo,
as claimant.
GIVE the monkey to the little boy,
cried several voices in the crowd.
"Not without evidence" replied tn,
officer. 80, now, my little man, cai
you prove to me that this monkey i
yours"
"Yes, l cam" cried the boy trium
phantly; ''this is a he monkey, and
have his wife in my pocket
WhereupOn, to the establishment an'
delight of the applauding crowd, the Lac
drew forth from his pocket a tiny pet fe
male monkey, the animal which TIN
French call the guenon. The evidenc
was complete, and, as the French journ
alists say 1.-THE incident was closed. -
Kansas City Journal.
The Salt Craze.
The majority of our readers will re
member the blue glass craze which rageC